Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Assault Case

Jury finds Uber liable in first trial of over 3,000 similar lawsuits against the ride-hailing company.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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A U.S. jury ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million after finding the company liable in a lawsuit brought by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver when she was 19. The case was the first trial, known as a bellwether, of more than 3,000 similar lawsuits against Uber that have been consolidated in federal court.

Why it matters

The verdict could influence the thousands of similar cases against Uber, which has faced numerous safety controversies and allegations of lax driver vetting and a culture that prioritized growth over passenger protection. The case highlights the ongoing challenges ride-hailing companies face in ensuring the safety of their passengers.

The details

The jury in federal court in Phoenix, Arizona, found that the driver was an agent of Uber, holding the company responsible for his actions. They awarded the plaintiff, Jaylynn Dean, $8.5 million in compensatory damages but declined to award punitive damages. Uber said it would appeal the verdict, noting the jury rejected Dean's other claims that the company was negligent or that its safety systems were defective.

  • The case was brought by the plaintiff in 2023, one month after the alleged assault in Arizona.
  • The trial took place in 2026.

The players

Jaylynn Dean

A 19-year-old woman who sued Uber after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by an Uber driver.

Uber

The ride-hailing company that was found liable in the lawsuit and ordered to pay $8.5 million in damages.

Sarah London

An attorney representing Jaylynn Dean.

Kim Bueno

An attorney representing Uber.

Charles Breyer

The U.S. District Judge overseeing the federal cases against Uber, which have been centralized in his court in San Francisco.

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What they’re saying

“This verdict validates the thousands of survivors who have come forward at great personal risk to demand accountability against Uber for its focus on profit over passenger safety.”

— Sarah London, Attorney for Jaylynn Dean

“Women know it's a dangerous world. We know about the risk of sexual assault. They made us believe that this was a place that was safe from that.”

— Alexandra Walsh, Attorney for Jaylynn Dean

“Was this foreseeable to Uber? And the answer to that has to be no.”

— Kim Bueno, Attorney for Uber

What’s next

Uber says it will appeal the verdict, and the company is also facing more than 500 similar cases in California state court.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges ride-hailing companies face in ensuring passenger safety, and the importance of robust background checks and safety measures to protect vulnerable customers.